The ESVA has had a lot to offer as June comes to a close. Fisherman have enjoyed an array of angling opportunities that would rival any world class destination which lures rod and reel laden folks like us.
Flounder have been in the spotlight this past week. The Sea Hawk Jones spent this week fishing the inlets of the ESVA for inshore summertime summer flounder…. which, I guess just makes them flounder. All jokes aside fishing was excellent with limits of fish going home with happy clients. The key was not necessarily the bait or rigs or even the boat captain, it was definitely the tide. Those fish turned on with the last couple of hours of the flood and continued to bite on into the start of the ebb. We did well on Aquaclear rigs with pink, white, and chartreuse teasers tipped with swimming mullet gulp and large bull minnows or silversides. The bulk of the fish were coerced from depths of 5-15 feet of clean, clear water in or near the inlets of the barrier islands. Elsewhere, these compressed predators are making an appearance on nearshore wrecks and reefs. The Blackfish banks reef off of Chincoteague has produced good numbers of flatfish the were tempted by not only the typical top and bottom style rigs adorn with minnows, long strips of squid, silversides and smelt but also 1 1/2 to 4 oz bucktails with 5”-6” gulp grubs. These spro/gulp lures do best when jigged directly over the structure in reach of hungry flounder. Along with the prize of a flounder dinner, anglers have enjoyed a bycatch of ribbon fish, spadefish and triggers. The spadefish and triggers have been chummed up and taking small bits of clam fished on 20-30# fluorocarbon with #4-#1 short shank hooks under a slip float.
Cobia have commanded the majority of attention in the lower Chesapeake Bay Area as anglers have pursued these scrappy brown suits with a combination of bunker chunks fished near the bottom along with live eels and brightly colored (pink and orange) jigs tipped with 7-9” jerk style soft plastics. However, the majority of fish have come on cut bait fished in a chum slick in water depths of 15-25 feet from the CBBT north to the lower reaches of the Pocomoke Sound. Anglers who have ventured south in pursuit of cobia have also had the opportunity to troll Clarkspoons for Spanish mackerel and fish crab baits for some trophy sheepshead around the pilings. There is always something to do in the lower Chesapeake!
The surf and inland waters of the VA islands have also produced decent kingfish and croaker activity. These fish, small but numerous, have helped add a positive spin on many young anglers’ experiences. They readily take small pieces of squid fished on top and bottom rigs and are the antidote to any family fishing trip that is in danger of being labeled boring. Along with these promiscuous panfish our krankin’ kiddos also have had a blast with Grade A catch and release shark fishing. These inshore sharks have been gobbling up cut chunks of mackerel and bunker fished on wire leadered 8/0 circle hooks. While some of us as seasoned fishermen turn our nose up at some of these trashy trophies, we sometimes forget that our number one goal is to have fun, fellowship and fishing memories forever.
Whether your fishing the salty seaside of the VA Barrier Islands or the excellent estuary of the Chesapeake, we need to remember that we are truly blessed to have a place like this that we call home.
Flounder have been in the spotlight this past week. The Sea Hawk Jones spent this week fishing the inlets of the ESVA for inshore summertime summer flounder…. which, I guess just makes them flounder. All jokes aside fishing was excellent with limits of fish going home with happy clients. The key was not necessarily the bait or rigs or even the boat captain, it was definitely the tide. Those fish turned on with the last couple of hours of the flood and continued to bite on into the start of the ebb. We did well on Aquaclear rigs with pink, white, and chartreuse teasers tipped with swimming mullet gulp and large bull minnows or silversides. The bulk of the fish were coerced from depths of 5-15 feet of clean, clear water in or near the inlets of the barrier islands. Elsewhere, these compressed predators are making an appearance on nearshore wrecks and reefs. The Blackfish banks reef off of Chincoteague has produced good numbers of flatfish the were tempted by not only the typical top and bottom style rigs adorn with minnows, long strips of squid, silversides and smelt but also 1 1/2 to 4 oz bucktails with 5”-6” gulp grubs. These spro/gulp lures do best when jigged directly over the structure in reach of hungry flounder. Along with the prize of a flounder dinner, anglers have enjoyed a bycatch of ribbon fish, spadefish and triggers. The spadefish and triggers have been chummed up and taking small bits of clam fished on 20-30# fluorocarbon with #4-#1 short shank hooks under a slip float.
Cobia have commanded the majority of attention in the lower Chesapeake Bay Area as anglers have pursued these scrappy brown suits with a combination of bunker chunks fished near the bottom along with live eels and brightly colored (pink and orange) jigs tipped with 7-9” jerk style soft plastics. However, the majority of fish have come on cut bait fished in a chum slick in water depths of 15-25 feet from the CBBT north to the lower reaches of the Pocomoke Sound. Anglers who have ventured south in pursuit of cobia have also had the opportunity to troll Clarkspoons for Spanish mackerel and fish crab baits for some trophy sheepshead around the pilings. There is always something to do in the lower Chesapeake!
The surf and inland waters of the VA islands have also produced decent kingfish and croaker activity. These fish, small but numerous, have helped add a positive spin on many young anglers’ experiences. They readily take small pieces of squid fished on top and bottom rigs and are the antidote to any family fishing trip that is in danger of being labeled boring. Along with these promiscuous panfish our krankin’ kiddos also have had a blast with Grade A catch and release shark fishing. These inshore sharks have been gobbling up cut chunks of mackerel and bunker fished on wire leadered 8/0 circle hooks. While some of us as seasoned fishermen turn our nose up at some of these trashy trophies, we sometimes forget that our number one goal is to have fun, fellowship and fishing memories forever.
Whether your fishing the salty seaside of the VA Barrier Islands or the excellent estuary of the Chesapeake, we need to remember that we are truly blessed to have a place like this that we call home.
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Today with Sea Hawk Sportfishing. Pretty good bite on last of the flood in 8-15’. Great fish, folks and most of all fun!
Some Sea Hawk Sportfishing pictures from recent trips including a today’s awesome flounder trip!
It doesn’t matter what you call them, the man in a brown suit, crab eater, or just plain ol’ cobia, this is the headline of fishing news for the ESVA! The season started off with a bang for anglers this past Wednesday. Most fish came tight on 7/0-9/0 octopus or octopus circle hooks on fairly heavy leader fished on a sinker slide or fishfinder rig baited with a tantalizing chunk of bunker. Chum, in some cases sunk to the bottom, also played a critical part in luring these scrappy opponents to the dinner table. Live eels have been floated back with the chum as well as casted along with bright colored jigs to cobia spotted swimming just under the surface of the water or following rays. Remember while you are battling unwanted rays and sharks, cobia sometimes will follow these tackle decimators right to your boat and offer a bonus to anglers who have a jig or eel ready to deploy. The most productive areas have been from the CBBT up to Cape Charles with good reports coming from waters as far north as the Pocomoke Sound. There have been a mixture of sizes with many fish not reaching the 40 inch minimum as well as other mature cows reaching into the mid fifties. Don’t forget in addition to your fishing license you must acquire a FREE Va cobia permit prior to fishing and participate in the mandatory reporting program.
Flounder fishing has held steady this past week with better catches coming during times of light winds that allow for clean water. The inshore bite has occurred for the most part on both sides of high water. The fish have been spread out with some on the flats while others seem to have taken up residence near the inlet areas of the Va barrier islands.
The nearshore report is starting to sound a lot more like summer as anglers target reefs and wrecks with warm water techniques. The blackfish bank reef has produced some decent flounder action. Anglers have used a assortment of top and bottom style flounder rigs as well as 1.5-6 ounce jigs tipped with gulp to tempt these deep water flatfish in to the dip net. Other shallower wrecks are home to a new shoals of spadefish eager to bend rods adorn with tempting prices of clam. Soon triggerfish will be mixed in with the spades to add even more tropical variety.
The Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds have still been fairly productive. Rock have been the most reliable quarry while casting lures and reds are still stalking the grassy shallows looking for an entree of crab. The water temperature is climbing into the 80’s so like all good things, this to shall pass. However the shallows will redeem themselves this fall as temps drop back down to more hospitable.
We have had a couple of good offshore reports with most action centering around the canyon. Yellowfin and mahi are causing most of the excitement by taking trolled baits like skirted ballyhoo. We did have 1 report of tuna on the 20 fathom line. Hopefully this continues, as a short run would be welcome with current high fuel prices.
Grab your kids, buddy, or even your wife and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place we call home!
Flounder fishing has held steady this past week with better catches coming during times of light winds that allow for clean water. The inshore bite has occurred for the most part on both sides of high water. The fish have been spread out with some on the flats while others seem to have taken up residence near the inlet areas of the Va barrier islands.
The nearshore report is starting to sound a lot more like summer as anglers target reefs and wrecks with warm water techniques. The blackfish bank reef has produced some decent flounder action. Anglers have used a assortment of top and bottom style flounder rigs as well as 1.5-6 ounce jigs tipped with gulp to tempt these deep water flatfish in to the dip net. Other shallower wrecks are home to a new shoals of spadefish eager to bend rods adorn with tempting prices of clam. Soon triggerfish will be mixed in with the spades to add even more tropical variety.
The Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds have still been fairly productive. Rock have been the most reliable quarry while casting lures and reds are still stalking the grassy shallows looking for an entree of crab. The water temperature is climbing into the 80’s so like all good things, this to shall pass. However the shallows will redeem themselves this fall as temps drop back down to more hospitable.
We have had a couple of good offshore reports with most action centering around the canyon. Yellowfin and mahi are causing most of the excitement by taking trolled baits like skirted ballyhoo. We did have 1 report of tuna on the 20 fathom line. Hopefully this continues, as a short run would be welcome with current high fuel prices.
Grab your kids, buddy, or even your wife and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place we call home!
